Production of 4-methylmercaptophenols and 3-isopropyl derivative



United States Patent poration, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York' No Drawing, Filed May 27, 1963, Ser. No. 283,585 12 Claims. (Cl. 260-609) This is a continuation-in-part of our application Serial No. 169,646, filed January 29, 1962, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to an improved process for production of 4-methyhnercaptophenols.

Many phosphates and thiophosphates derived from methylmercaptophenols are extremely potent insecticides. For example, the high insecticidal activity of diethyl 4- methylmercaptophenyl phosphate derived from 4-methylrnercaptophenol is described by Fukuto and Metcalf in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, vol. 4 (1956), pages 930-935.

Commercialization of these phosphates and thiophosphates has been hampered by lack of a simple and economical method of preparing the intermediate methylmercaptophenols. For example, the method now generally employed in preparing 4-rnethylmercaptophenol involves starting with the highly expensive 4-aminophenol, converting it to 4-mercaptophenol via the difficult and dangerous diazoniurn reaction and then methylating the mercapto group. Other methods for preparing 4- 'methylmercaptophenol employ catalysts which form varying amounts of undesired Z-methylmercaptophenol, thus necessitating separation by distillation procedure.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an economical and eflicient process for produc- -tion of 4-methylmercaptophenols in high yield. More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide an economical and eficient process for production of 4- methylmercaptophenols in high yield .by alkaline hydrolysis of 4-halothioanisoles. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that an alkali metal 4-methylmercaptophenate may be prepared by reacting a 4-halothioanisole with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper and cuprous oxide. The alkali metal 4-methylmercaptophenate may .then be acidified and the corresponding 4-methylmercaptophenol recovered therefrom.

The, production of 4-rnethylmercaptophenol, 'for example, may be represented by the following equations wherein the 4.-halothioanisole is 4-chlorothioanisole, the alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide and the acidifying agent is'hydrochloric acid.

(1) Cl ONa u-Cuz0 ZNaOH NaGl H2O SCH; SCH:

2) 0N3. OH-

+HC1 O-I-NaCI SCH; SCHs There are numerous teachings in the prior art illustrat ing the sensitivity of the thioeth'er linkage to alkaline conditions. Cleavage to thiols and hydrocarbons or even complete elimination of sulfur are known to occur. It was, therefore, indeed unexpected when high yields 3,251,886 Patented May 1 7, 1966 of 4 rnethylmercaptophenols were obtained by the alkaline hydrolysis process of this invention.

Any 4-halothioanisoles may be employed in the process of this invention; however, we prefer to employ 4-chlorothioanisoles or 4-bromothioanisoles. Although it has been found that the 4-bromothioanisoles react somewhat more easily than the 4-chlorothioanisoles to give equivalent product yields, the latter reactants, on the other hand, are less expensive. v

The 4-halothioanisoles used as reactants in the process of this invention may be readily prepared by direct halogenation of thioanisoles which, in turn, may be prepared by methylation of thiophenols. 2-isopropyl-4-halothioanisoles, for example, are heretofore unknown materials which arereacted to form the new compound, 3-isopropyl-4-methylmercaptophenol.

It is preferred to employ sodium hydroxide as the alkali metal hydroxide in the process of this invention.

Other alkali metal hydroxides, such as potassium hydroxide or lithium hydroxide or mixtures of any two or more alkali metal hydroxides, can also be used.

The alkali metal hydroxide is generally employed in amount of about 2.5 to 3.0 mols per moi of the 4-halothioanisole and in admixture with sufficient water to form an aqueous solution of the alkali metal hydroxide of about 10 to 20 percent by weight concentration.

Although the relative proportionsof copper and cuprous oxide in the catalyst may vary within wide limits, it is preferred that the weight ratio of copper to cuprous oxide be about 0.3-2 to 1. employed in amount of about 10 to 15 percent by weight of the 4-halothioanisole.

The reaction is carried out at elevated temperatures, typically in the range of about to 300 C. or higher, for at least about 1 /2 hours. Preferably, the reaction temperature is maintained between about 200 to 280 C. under the autogenous pressure of the reaction mix ture. The hydrolysis reaction proceeds readily under the preferred conditions to produce alkali metal 4-methylmercaptophenate in reaction time ranging from about 1 /2 to 5 hours. No alkali'metal Z-methylmercaptophenate is formed during the reaction.

In preferred operation, the 4-halothionanisole, the alkali metal hydroxide and water, or an aqueous solution of the alkali metal hydroxide, and the copper-cuprous oxide catalyst are placed in a suitable pressure resistant reaction vessel, e.g. a steel or stainless steel autoclave, in the. desired proportions. The mixture is agitated and heated at reaction temperature .of about 200 to 280 C. under the autogenous pressure of the reaction mixture for a reactiontime of about 1 /2 to 5 hours. The resulting reaction mass is then cooled, and the desired product is recovered by any suitable procedure.

The process can be carried out in continuous manner by feeding the 4-halotbioanisole, aqueous solution of alkali metal hydroxide and copper-cuprous oxide catalyst to a suitable pressure resistant vessel, wherein the reaction mixture is agitated and heated under the autogenous pressure of the mixture and at temperatures and for reaction times previously described, and' thereafter cooling and discharging the hydrolyzed mixture from the vessel, after which the 4-methylmercaptophenol is recovered.

The following examples illustrate ways in which the principle of this invention has been applied. In the examples, parts are by Weight:

EXAMPLES 1 TO 6 In each of these examples, the 4-halothioanisole, aqueand provided with a heating jacket equipped with means The catalyst is generally I 3 for shaking the bomb. The jacket was heated to the de* sired temperature as rapidly as possible (about one hour) and maintained at the desired temperature range for the prescribed number of hours. The bomb was then al- 4 4-methylmercaptophenol boiling at 110-1 22 C. at 0.4- 0.55 mm. Hg.

The aqueous alkaline layer was extracted with ether to remove unreacted 2-isopropyl-4-bromothioanisole. The

C. at OAS-0.5 mm. Hg, and (3) 2.2 parts of 3-isopropyllowed to cool, and the resulting reaction mass was re- 5 aqueous layer was then acidified with hydrochloric acid moved, filtered, washed with ether and then heated to its and ether extracted. The ether extract. was dried and boiling point. Activated alumina (80-200 mesh) was distilled to removeether, then vacuum distilled at 0.7 added to effect decolorization of the mass, and the mass mm. Hg to remove 3 parts. of 3-ispropyl-4-methylmerwas then boiled for a few minutes, filtered, cooled and captophenol boiling at 1l3.5l-17 C.

acidified with hydrochloric acid. The precipitated 4- The total yield of 3-isopropyl-4-methylmercaptophenol methylrnercaptophenol was filtered off and finally rebased on the 2-isopropy1-4-bromothioanisole charged was crystallized from a mixture of benzene and petroleum 40%.

ether (1:1). Infrared analysis of the 3-isopropyl-4-methylmercapto- The criticality of use of the copper-cuprous oxide cataphenol showed strong OH stretching at 2.91 microns, lyst is shown by comparing Examples 2 and -6, which are C-H stretching at 3.31-3.42 microns, aromatic skeletal identical except that in Example 2 the catalyst was used. inplane vibrations at 6.22, 6.32 and 6.79 microns and When no catalyst was employed (Example 6), negative C--H deformation frequencies at 6.96, 7.23 and 7.34 miresults were obtained. crons.

The results obtained are tabulated below: Although we have described preferred embodiments Reactant Aqueous NaOlI 4-Metlrylmercapto- Catalyst Reaction phenol Example Reactant Cll-CllzO, Temp, Time, Concen- Parts 0. Hours Parts Mel tration, Parts Parts Yield,

percent percent 1 40 0.2 10 200 2.5-7.5 250-275 3 17 61 2 40 0.2 10 200 2.5-7.5 200-225 3 22 79 a 80 0.4 200 2.5-7.5 255-280 2 33 61 4 a2 0.2 10 200 2.5-7.5 200-280 3 16 57 5 o 64 0.4 10 200 2.5-7.5 250-275 1% 24 43 6 4-Bromothioanisole 40 0.2 20 200 None 200-225 3 None None 1 Based on the -halothioanisole charged.

EXAMPLE 7 of the present invention, the invention is deemed to be Part A r limited only by the scope of the appended claims. We claim:

Parts Of z'isopmpylthiolihenel Were dissolve! in 1. A process for preparingan alkali metal 4-methy1- 118 Parts of absolute ethanol, and 3 P of eodlufn mercaptophenate which comprises reacting a 4-halothiohydroxide Pellets Were added eelutlen and anisole with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hy- P I of e y ledlde' Were f e dropdroxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper, Wise v a 30 mmute Pe1'1ed,the temperafure T151112 from and cuprous oxide under pressure at temperature of about room temperature to 50 C. The resultlng mixture was 5 0 Ci refluxed for 30 minutes, poured into waten extracted with A Process for preparing a 4 methy1mewaptopheno1 ether and the ether extract dfledand fl A {161d which comprises reacting a 4-halothioarrisole with an 015024 Parts of l-lsepropylthwaplsole bmlmg at 55 to aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide in the 57 at Hg was Qbtamedpresence of a catalyst comprising copper and cuprous Part B oxide under pressure at temperature of about'175 to 300 C., acidifying the reaction mass and recovering the 4- 40 arts of 2-iso ro lthioanisole re ared as described mfithylmercaptophenol tilerefrom' in Par t A were dis olr d in 126 part 0? carbon disulfide, The process. of .clalm 2 wherem the stamng mateand 40 parts of bromine were added to the solution with nal 1S '4'chlomthloamsol.e' stirring, the temperature rising to 28 C. The resulting process. of .claun 2 Wherem the Starting mate mixture was refluxed at 51 C. for one hour and then dis- Hal 47bromothloamso1? tilled. 52 parts of 2-isopropyl-4-bromothioanisole boili Z process of clam iq the st'amng mate" ing at 113 to 120 0. at 2 mm. Hg were obtained. 55

' 6. The process of claim 2 wherern the starting mate- Part C rial is 2-isopropyl-4-bromothioanisole.

- 7. The process of claim 2 wherein the alkali metal 24 parts of the 2-isopropyl-4-bromothioanisole prehydroxide is sodium hydroxide. V pared in Part B, 111 parts of 10% aqueous sodium hy- 0 8. A process for preparing 4-methylmercaptopheno1 droxide, 1,25 parts of copper powder and 0,75 part of which comprises reacting 4-ch1orothioaniso1e with an cuprous oxide powder were heated with shaking for 5 aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide in the presence of hours at temperature of 220 C. in a bomb of the type a catalyst comprising copper and cuprous oxide at temused in Examples 1 to 6. The bomb was allowed to perature of about 200 to 280 C. in a closed vessel uncool, and the resulting reaction mass was washed out 5 der the autogenous pressure of the reaction mixture, with water. Ether was added to the mass which was then acidifying the reaction mass with a mineral acid and refiltered. An ether layer and an aqueous alkaline layer covering 4 methylmeroaptophenol therefrom. resulted which were separated. 9. A process for preparing 4-methy1mercaptopheno] The ether layer was distilled to remove the ether and which comprises reacting 4-brornothioanisole with an then vacuum distilled to give three fractions (-1) 4.0 parts aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide in the presence of of unreaoted 2-isopropyl-4-bromothioanisole boiling at a catalyst comprising copper and cuprous oxide at tem- 92100 C. at 05-065 mm. Hg, (2) 3.9 parts of a 50-50 perature of about 200 to 280 C..in a closed vessel unmixture of unreacted 2-isopropyl-4-bromothioanisole and der the autogenous pressure of the reaction mixture,

3-isopropyl-4-methylmercaptophenol boiling at 100-104" acidifying the reaction mass with a mineral acid and recovering 4-met'hylmercaptophenol therefrom.

10. A process for preparing 3-isopropy1-4-methylmercaptophenol which comprises reacting 2-isopropy1-4-chlorothioanisole with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxv ide in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper and cuprous oxide at temperature of about 200 to 280 C. in a closed vessel under the autogenous pressure of the reaction mixture, acidifying the reaction mass with a mineral acid and recovering 3-isopropyl-4-methylmercaptophenol therefrom.

11. A process for preparing 3-isopropyl-4-methy1mercaptophenol which comprises reacting .2-isopropyl4-bromothioanisole with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper and cuprous oxide at temperature of about 200 to 280 C. in a closed vessel under the autogeuous pressure of the reaction mixture, acidifying the reaction mass with a mineral acid and recovering 3-isopropyl-4-rnethylmercaptophenol therefrom.

12. 3-isopropyl-4-methylmercaptophenol.

Hale et al.: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 20, 114116 (1928).

CHA'RLES B. PARKER, Primary Examiner. 15 DELBERT R. PHILLIPS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PROCESS FOR PREPARING AN ALKALI METAL 4-METHYLMERCAPTOPHENATE WHICH COMPRISES REACTING A 4-HALOTHIOANISOLE WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF AN ALKALI METAL HY DROXIDE IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST COMPRISING COPPER AND CUPROUS OXIDE UNDER PRESSURE AT TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 175* TO 300*C.
 12. 3-ISOPROPYL-4-METHYLMERCAPTOPHENOL. 